In April, Suhaila joined twelve other young women as an intern working with a tech company in Herat. The six-month internship gave Suhaila the opportunity to build her confidence and to put the theory she had learnt at university into practice, designing websites, developing databases, and coding computer programs for the Department of Women Affairs. After completing her internship, Shaila decided to start her own company.

One of the biggest challenges to the melon farmers of northern Afghanistan is melon fly infestation, which damages the fruit and leads to secondary rot. Unfortunately, traditional methods of melon cultivation do little to protect the fruit, and farmers lack pest management controls. The result is lower yields and less income for the farmers.

Looking to address the unique needs of the people living in Ghor, the USAID-funded HEMAYAT Project and the Afghan government came up with a solution: take healthcare directly to the villagers, like those living in Dawlatyar.